“Italy confirms ICCROM’s strategic importance in the protection and recovery of cultural treasures, elements essential to reinforcing and maintaining identities within the current dynamics of globalisation”, commented Under-Secretary Mario Giro during his speech at the28th General Assembly of the International Centre for Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), a UNESCO agency with its headquarters in Rome and whose membership includes 133 countries.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs makes an annual contribution to ICCROM to support cooperation with the organisation, which this year received a substantial voluntary addition of 400,000 euro.
ICCROM is engaged in three priority programmes of great interest to Italy: the conservation of mosaics in the southeast Mediterranean; the creation of a network of experts on the cultural property of the Arab region; and preservation of the cultural property of Latin America.
“These three areas are key to the government’s intentions to strengthen the Italian presence, not only to stimulate major business opportunities but also to strengthen ties and dialogue, anchored to the deeply rooted identity of these countries. ICCROM is a precious ally of cultural diplomacy”, concluded Under-Secretary Giro.